Department for Education

Sign Language: GCSE

lord bruce of bennachie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce British Sign Language into the curriculum in England as a GCSE subject; and if so, when.

lord agnew of oulton: The Department for Education and Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator, have received a proposal for a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE from the exam board Signature. All GCSEs need to meet certain subject content and assessment requirements. The department is now developing draft BSL GCSE subject content, which will be considered against the subject content criteria requirements that apply to all GCSEs. If these expectations are met and a BSL GCSE is ready to be introduced, the department will then consider whether to make an exception to our general rule that there should be no new GCSEs in this Parliament. It is too early to say how long this process might take.

Music: Education

the earl of clancarty: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will clarify the roles and responsibilities of (1) schools, and (2) music education hubs, with regard to the delivery of music education.

lord agnew of oulton: It is the role of schools to deliver the curriculum. Music education hubs were established to drive up the quality and consistency of music education across the country, and to that end are funded to work with children in all state-funded schools in England. This means that hubs work with all schools, including academies and free schools, to meet local needs, at the same time as ensuring that all children experience high quality music education. The roles and responsibilities of schools and music education hubs are detailed in the national plan for music education, attached, which the department has committed to refreshing for 2020 and beyond.



HL14088_the_importance_of_music
(PDF Document, 533.47 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Credit: Insurance

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the withdrawal of credit insurance to a company sponsoring a pension fund with a large deficit requires approval by the Pensions Regulator.

baroness buscombe: The Pensions Regulator does not have jurisdiction over corporate business transactions, such as the withdrawal of credit insurance, and does not have the power to require insurance companies to seek approval before withdrawing insurance cover. The Pensions Regulator operates a voluntary clearance procedure to those who are considering transactions involving companies with defined benefit schemes. If clearance is not applied for and granted, the Regulator may exercise its anti-avoidance powers, if it considers that the transaction was aimed at avoiding a debt to the pension scheme. These powers can be applied up to six years after a transaction has taken place. Employers sponsoring defined benefit pension schemes are also required to notify the Regulator of certain prescribed events. These do not include the withdrawal of credit insurance but should the withdrawal of such insurance trigger a prescribed event, including insolvency, then the employer would be required to notify the Pensions Regulator. Defined benefit pension schemes also go through a valuation process every three years (tri-annual evaluation), comparing assets against liabilities, and the withdrawal of credit insurance might be identified by the Regulator as part of this process.

Pensioners: British Nationals Abroad

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of a no-deal Brexit on UK pension claimants living in EU countries.

baroness buscombe: As the Government set out in its Policy Paper ‘Citizens’ Rights – EU citizens in the UK and UK Nationals in the EU’ we wish to secure continued reciprocal arrangements covering the up-rating of State Pensions even in the event of a no deal exit. UK State Pensions will be uprated, as they are currently, for those recipients living in EU countries for 2019/2020.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements: Mauritius

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in securing a bilateral trade agreement with Mauritius.

baroness fairhead: On 31 January 2019, the Government signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with members of the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) EPA, which includes Mauritius. This will provide continuity for businesses, exporters and consumers as the UK prepares to leave the EU.